Gloucester Stage Names New Artistic Director

Gloucester Stage Board of Directors President Robert Boulrice is pleased to announce that Jeff Zinn has been named the new Managing Director of Gloucester Stage, effective immediately. Joining newly appointed Artistic Director Robert Walsh, Jeff Zinn, a longtime New England theatre professional, completes a new Gloucester Stage leadership team. According to Boulrice, "Gloucester Stage's 2015 season has been a real thrill ride, filled with wonderful accomplishments. We've enjoyed critical acclaim and sell outs for Out of Sterno and Gloucester Blue, which is being extended through October 11! The great news of Robert Walsh's appointment as Artistic Director coincided with the resignation of Jon Wojciechowski, Gloucester Stage's Managing Director since October 2014, who has moved on to pursue other creative opportunities. Jon brought the Welcome Project and Never Dark programming to Gloucester Stage, along with The Collaborative, a very energizing Apprentice Program, which will endure for seasons to come." Boulrice continues, "Next came some really excellent news with the appointment of Jeff Zinn as our next Managing Director. Jeff brings a sterling pedigree and an impressive tool set to Gloucester Stage. The thought of Jeff Zinn and Bob Walsh working together leaves me breathless. Ok, forgive the hyperbole, but this is theater after all and the Gloucester Stage board is very excited for the future, starting right now!"

Artistic Director Robert Walsh enthusiastically welcomes Zinn to Gloucester Stage, "Jeff is a wonderful director, producer, and collaborator and has an extraordinary track record for bringing connected, passionate work to the stage. He is a consummate theatre artist and manager and I couldn't be more excited to partner with him to continue and grow the work at Gloucester Stage."

An actor, director, producer, author and educator, Jeff Zinn looks forward to joining Gloucester Stage, "In the many years that I was Producing Artistic Director of Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, it always struck me that there was a simpatico sensibility shared by Gloucester Stage and WHAT - a dedication to new plays and a willingness to use theater to engage important issues of the day. I am truly looking forward to partnering with Artistic Director Bob Walsh, and honored to be asked to help lead Gloucester Stage in this next chapter of its journey. There's certainly some irony in the fact that I am moving from one Cape to another!"

Zinn is best known as the longtime Producing Artistic Director of Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT) on Cape Cod. Under his leadership, WHAT grew to become a nationally recognized professional theater presenting provocative new American plays for a diverse and appreciative regional audience. While there he produced more than 150 productions and directed more than 50. He also spearheaded the effort to create a permanent home for WHAT. Following a successful multi-million dollar capital campaign, The Julie Harris Stage - a state of the art, 220 seat theater - opened its doors in 2007 to widespread acclaim. The Boston Globe architecture critic called it "a gem."

WHAT was awarded two prestigious Eliot Norton Awards including one in 2001 for "Establishing a Beachhead for Serious Theatre on Cape Cod." Productions he directed,Beauty Queen of Leenane (starring Julie Harris), Closer by Patrick Marber, and Proof by David Auburn were named, in their respective years, as part of the top ten theater productions by the Boston Globe. His 2010 productions of Daughter of Venus by his father, Howard Zinn, and the world premiere of Danny Casolaro Died for You, by Dominic Orlando, (National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere) received critical acclaim as did his 2011 productions of A Behanding In Spokane by Martin McDonagh and Bakersfield Mist by Stephen Sachs. His remounting of Bakersfield Mist at New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, MA, garnered the 2012 Eliot Norton Award for Best New Script.

As an actor Zinn made his Equity debut as "Danny" in the original off-Broadway production of David Mamet's Sexual Perversity In Chicago, and appeared on Broadway with Derek Jacobi in The Suicide. As a director he developed new plays at Ensemble Studio Theatre, The White Barn Theatre, The West Bank Cafe, Theater for the New City, as a member of the Circle Repertory Company Lab, the Berkshire Playwrights Lab and Boston Playwrights Theatre.

He is also an author. His book, The Existential Actor: Life and Death, Onstage and Off, a historical and philosophical take on the art and craft of acting, was published in the spring of 2015 by Smith and Kraus Publishing.

Zinn currently holds the post of Visiting Academic Professional of Drama/Theatre at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is also Adjunct Professor of Theater Studies at Clark University.

He lives (for now) in Orleans, MA on Cape Cod, with his wife, Crystal, and their children, Georgia and Noah.

Now Playing at Gloucester Stage: Israel Horovitz's Gloucester Blue featuring the critically acclaimed performance of Artistic Director Robert Walsh is extended through Sunday, October 11. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Ticket prices are $28 for all performances. Tickets are $1 for ages 25 years and under for all performances. The $1 tickets are cash only and available at the door on day of performance only. All performances are held at Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Gloucester Stage Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com

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